\section{Conclusion}
\label{conclusion}

In this paper we presented \emph{AnnoFlow}, a Java 5 annotation framework that
enables data flow assertions and auditing capabilities in a cloud environment.
\emph{AnnoFlow} alleviates many of the tasks associated with software maintenance
in platform as a service environments by enabling developers to define points
of interest in an application and retrieve relevant application metrics from
the cloud. Additionally, \emph{AnnoFlow} presents developers with a mechanism
to establish boundaries in the cloud. Among other uses, these boundaries can
enable developers to prevent invalid data flow in the cloud. For instance, they
can establish a policy to ensure that data is encrypted at all times. Or, they
can establish a policy that a particular piece of data cannot leave the United
States. These boundaries provide a useful first step in enabling a service level
agreement between developers and platforms in cloud environments.